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The Nebraska CHEM-L Protocol
Children Exposed to Methamphetamine Labs (CHEM-L)The Nebraska CHEM-L Protocol has been developed by a Medical Working Group as part of the Midwest High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Program. The protocol is part of Nebraska's focus on drug-endangered children.
The CHEM-L Protocol defines "best practice" for law enforcement, Health and Human Services case workers, the medical community, and foster care providers to coordinate efforts on behalf of children who have been exposed to the clandestine manufacture of methamphetamine.
The CHEM-L Protocol includes four forms which should be completed whenever a child has been discovered in association with a clandestine methamphetamine lab:
| Form 1: | An Exposure Record to be completed by law enforcement at the scene. |
| Form 2: | A Health History Record to be completed at the scene by the individual responsible for the children (preferably an HHSS caseworker). |
| Form 3: | An Initial Medical Assessment to be completed by a physician after reviewing Forms 1 and 2 and completing an examination of the child. |
| Form 4: | Foster Care Guidelines to be completed by the physician or person responsible for the children at the scene, and reviewed by the foster care provider. |
Each form includes a self-addressed evaluation sheet to provide feedback to the Medical Working Group about the protocol process.
The Nebraska CHEM-L Protocol and Forms can be downloaded in PDF format. Adobe offers a free PDF reader . The protocol should be printed on both sides of the paper so that the forms and instructions will remain together.
Download the CHEM-L Protocol (PDF)
You may also be interested in a power ponit presentation covering the basic aspects of the CHEM-L protocol.
Download the CHEM-L Powerpoint presentation
Download the CHEM-L Creighton presentation (12/2/2005)
Feedback and questions about the Nebraska CHEM-L Protocol should be directed to the Medical Working Group at the addresses below:
CHEM-L Medical Working Group
c/o Gregg Wright, M.D.
Center on Children, Families, and the Law
University of Nebraska, Lincoln
121 South 13th Street, Suite 302
Lincoln, NE 68588-0227
E-mail to: gwright1@unl.edu
